iPhone 1
It is very natural that after iPod followed iPhone. The first iPhone prototypes could be traced back to 2004. More than a decade later we get to know even more details about the project. Apple was focused on surprising everyone and therefore developed the original iPhone in secret, using codenames “M68” and “Purple 2”. The iPhone M68 prototype board looked like a computer motherboard and was used for software and radio testing. The board included a Samsung ARM processor, Samsung memory, and various connectivity ports. Engineers used the board to test the Darwin operating system, hardware connectivity, and various components like the camera, battery and proximity sensor.
The first official iPhone announcement came out three years later at the Macworld convention on January 9, 2007. Apple still keeps the press release on the website and everyone could read it. On June 29, 2007, the first iPhone was released.
The new iPhone had several great engineering solutions and marketing communications even more emphasized iPhone’s new features with the words:
Revolutionary: iPhone was described as a “revolutionary”, “magical” product that would change the mobile phone industry.
Mobile: iPhone combined a mobile phone, ultra-mobile iPod, and internet communicator into one device.
Multi-touch: iPhone featured a large multi-touch display, allowing users to control it with their fingers.
Visual Voicemail: a pioneering feature that let users see a listing of their voicemails and choose which ones to listen to directly.
Sophisticated Software: iPhone’s software power and sophistication was unprecedented for a mobile device.
Remarkable User Interface: iPhone introduced an entirely new user interface based on touch controls.
Breakthrough Internet: iPhone was also an internet communications device with web browsing, email and maps.
Auto Sync: users could sync their contacts, calendars and photos from their PC or Mac.
Music Ready: iPhone served as a widescreen iPod for music lovers.
Predictive Keyboard: the touch keyboard was predictive, making typing more efficient.
Media reviews were mostly positive even though some openly pointed out iPhone’s shortcomings. CNET concluded that despite some important missing features, a slow data network, and call quality that did not always deliver, the Apple iPhone marked a new benchmark for an integrated cell phone and MP3 player. Techradar noted that iPhone was elegant, intuitive and fast - but it could do more. According to USA Today Apple's iPhone was not perfect, but it was worthy of the hype. WSJ verdict was that despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone was, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Engadget’s analysis found that there was only a very short list of properly groundbreaking technologies in the iPhone (multi-touch input), and a very long list of things users were already upset about not having in a $600 cellphone but Engadget suspected the answer for countless consumers would be a resounding yes for iPhone. PCMag had a stronger opinion about iPhone - the most over-hyped product of the decade was a sublime media player and a flawed phone. Gizmodo advised readers to wait with buying decisions.
Even though the reviewers pointed out many iPhone shortcomings thousands of people were reported to have waited outside Apple and AT&T retail stores days before the device's launch and many stores reported stock shortages within few hours of availability. The interest was enormous despite the new device lacked several important features that many now take for granted:
App Store, GPS - started in 2008.
Copy & paste, video recording - introduced with iPhone 3GS in 2009.
Retina display, front camera, selfies and flashlight - included with iPhone 4 in 2010.
Siri - launched with iPhone 4S in 2011.
Lightning connector - released with iPhone 5 in 2012.
Touch ID or Face ID - Touch ID arrived with the iPhone 5s in 2013, while Face ID debuted on the iPhone X in 2017.
Wireless charging: the first iPhones to support wireless charging were the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X released in 2017.
On June 9, 2008, Apple announced the iPhone 3G, which began shipping July 11 with the first iPhone model discontinued four days later. Today it is a collector’s item. While it’s no longer available in stores, one might find second-hand or refurbished models through online platforms or auction sites. Wikipedia writes that in July 2023, an unopened, first edition model of the 2007 iPhone was sold at auction in the US for $190,372.80, nearly 400 times the original price!